Japan urged to mend strained relations

A senior Chinese official on Thursday urged Japanese political figures with insight into China-Japan relations to work to bring bilateral ties back on the right track, expressing hope that Tokyo will take practical steps to create the conditions needed to overcome difficulties in ties.

Lu Kang, vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting with a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers visiting China, led by Shinichi Isa, a Lower House member of the Centrist Reform Alliance.

The visit marks the first trip to China by a group of Japanese lawmakers since bilateral relations became strained following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November suggesting possible military involvement in the Taiwan Strait.

Lu said relations between China and Japan are facing serious difficulties and that the causes are clear.

He underscored that historical issues, the Taiwan question and other major matters of principle affect the political foundation of bilateral relations and the fundamental trust between the two neighbors.

Lu called on Japanese political parties and politicians to distinguish right from wrong and push those in power to abide by the principles embodied in the four political documents between China and Japan, learn from history, and handle the Taiwan question honestly and strictly in accordance with the one-China principle.

'Deeply concerned'

For his part, Isa said relations between Japan and China are important not only to the two countries but also to Asia and the wider world.

Japan is deeply concerned about the current difficulties in bilateral ties and hopes to maintain communication with China and help improve their relationship, he said.

Commenting on the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a daily news conference on Thursday that the root cause of the serious difficulties in China-Japan relations lies in the erroneous remarks and actions by Japanese governing authorities on Taiwan and in the fields of military and security.

"They should heed and value the voice of reason in Japan, repent for and correct the wrongdoings, and safeguard the political foundation of China-Japan relations with concrete actions," Lin said.

The delegation — comprising Isa, Liberal Democratic Party Lower House lawmaker Gaku Hashimoto, and Komeito Upper House member Yudai Kawamura — arrived in Beijing earlier this week, The Japan Times reported.

Isa, who has served as a diplomat at the Japanese embassy in China, wrote on X earlier this month that bilateral ties have sunk to their worst since the 1972 normalization of relations.

The situation is not in the national interest of either side, Isa said at the time, adding that the Chinese side accepted a request from Japanese lawmakers for a window of dialogue.